TL;DR: ActiveCampaign is powerful, but its pricing climbs fast as your list grows. The best alternatives are Brevo, MailerLite, HubSpot, GetResponse, Klaviyo, Omnisend, and Kit. Brevo wins on affordable sending, MailerLite on simplicity, and Klaviyo or Omnisend on ecommerce. Free plans start at $0, and paid tiers begin around $9 to $20 a month.
ActiveCampaign is a strong automation platform, but it is not the right fit for every budget or team. Its Starter plan begins at $15 per month for 1,000 contacts, and the cost scales steeply as your list grows. Many marketers hit a wall when the price jumps between tiers.
Email is worth getting right. Marketing email still returns between $36 and $40 for every dollar spent, one of the highest returns in digital marketing. Picking the wrong tool wastes that potential.
We reviewed the pricing and features of seven ActiveCampaign competitors so you can switch with confidence. If you want a wider view first, see our guide to AI marketing tools.
Quick Comparison: ActiveCampaign Alternatives
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Affordable bulk sending | $9/mo (free plan) | Priced by emails, not contacts |
| MailerLite | Simplicity on a budget | $12/mo (free plan) | Clean, easy interface |
| HubSpot | All-in-one CRM growth | $20/seat/mo (free plan) | Native CRM and marketing suite |
| GetResponse | Webinars and funnels | $19/mo | Built-in webinars and landing pages |
| Klaviyo | Ecommerce data depth | $20/mo (free plan) | Deep ecommerce segmentation |
| Omnisend | Ecommerce email plus SMS | $16/mo (free plan) | All channels in one workflow |
| Kit (ConvertKit) | Creators and newsletters | Free to 10,000 subs | Generous free creator plan |
Why Look for an ActiveCampaign Alternative?
Most people leave ActiveCampaign because the price scales faster than their needs. The entry tier looks cheap, but costs rise sharply as contacts grow, and some tiers lock out lists above 10,000 contacts.
Beyond price, the platform has a learning curve. Newer marketers often find the automation builder complex. Others need features ActiveCampaign handles poorly, like ecommerce SMS flows or a native newsletter model. A different tool can save money, cut friction, or add the exact channel you need.
The 7 Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives
#1 Brevo: Best for affordable bulk sending
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is the top pick for teams that send a lot of email on a tight budget.
What it does well. Brevo charges by emails sent, not contacts stored. That flips the usual pricing model. You can hold a huge list and only pay for the emails you actually send, which keeps costs low as your audience grows.
Key features:
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Free plan with up to 100,000 contacts stored
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Pricing based on send volume, not list size
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Marketing automation, signup forms, and landing pages
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SMS and WhatsApp messaging as add-ons
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Built-in CRM and transactional email
Pricing. The free plan sends up to 300 emails per day. Paid plans start at $9 per month for the Starter tier, with Standard at $18 per month. Contacts are unlimited on paid plans.
Best for: Businesses with large lists that send in bursts and want to avoid contact-based pricing.
Limitations. The free plan caps daily sends. Removing Brevo branding and adding SMS or WhatsApp both cost extra, so a multi-channel campaign lands on a second bill.
#2 MailerLite: Best for simplicity on a budget
MailerLite is the easiest platform on this list, and one of the cheapest.
What it does well. MailerLite strips email marketing down to the essentials and makes them simple. The drag-and-drop editor is clean, the automation builder is friendly, and beginners get up and running fast. You still get landing pages, websites, and signup forms.
Key features:
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Drag-and-drop email and landing page builder
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Free plan with core marketing tools
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Automation workflows and A/B testing
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Website builder and digital product sales
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30% discount for verified nonprofits
Pricing. The free plan supports 250 subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails after a June 2026 update. The Growing Business plan starts at $12 per month with unlimited emails.
Best for: Solo creators and small businesses that want a low price and a gentle learning curve.
Limitations. The free plan tightened in 2026, dropping from 500 to 250 subscribers. Advanced users may find the automation features lighter than ActiveCampaign.
#3 HubSpot: Best for all-in-one CRM growth
HubSpot is the alternative for teams that want marketing and a full CRM in one place.
What it does well. HubSpot connects email marketing to a native CRM, so contact data flows across sales and marketing without extra tools. The platform scales from a free tier to enterprise, adding lead scoring, social media, and advanced reporting as you grow.
Key features:
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Free CRM with email marketing and forms
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Native contact and deal management
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Lead scoring and marketing analytics
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AI-powered email and content tools
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Social media and campaign management
Pricing. The free plan includes basic email and CRM with HubSpot branding. The Starter plan runs $20 per seat per month on annual billing. Professional jumps to $890 per month, a large gap.
Best for: Growing companies that want to unify sales and marketing data on one platform.
Limitations. The jump from Starter to Professional is steep, and Professional carries a mandatory onboarding fee in year one. It can be overkill for a simple newsletter.
#4 GetResponse: Best for webinars and funnels
GetResponse packs email, landing pages, and webinars into a single tool.
What it does well. GetResponse stands out by bundling live webinars and conversion funnels with its email marketing. That makes it a strong fit for course creators and coaches who sell through live events. You also get a website builder and an AI email generator.
Key features:
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Built-in webinar hosting
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Conversion funnels and landing pages
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AI email generator and autoresponders
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Website builder and signup forms
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24/7 chat support
Pricing. The Starter plan begins at $19 per month for up to 1,000 subscribers with unlimited emails. Contact tiers scale to 2,500 for $29 per month and 10,000 for $79 per month.
Best for: Coaches, course sellers, and marketers who run webinars alongside email.
Limitations. The Starter plan includes only one automation workflow and is single-user. Webinars and advanced segmentation require higher tiers.
#5 Klaviyo: Best for ecommerce data depth
Klaviyo is the go-to platform for online stores that live on customer data.
What it does well. Klaviyo plugs deep into ecommerce platforms and turns purchase behavior into precise segments. You can trigger flows from browsing, buying, and cart activity with granular control. It combines email and SMS in one system built for revenue.
Key features:
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Deep ecommerce integrations and data sync
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Advanced segmentation from purchase behavior
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Email and SMS in one platform
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Predictive analytics and product recommendations
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Prebuilt ecommerce automation flows
Pricing. The free plan covers 250 active profiles and 500 email sends per month. The Email plan starts at $20 per month for 500 contacts, and the Email plus SMS plan starts at $35 per month.
Best for: Ecommerce brands that want data-driven segmentation and revenue tracking.
Limitations. Klaviyo switched to active-profile pricing in 2025, which raised costs for many stores. It is priced and built for ecommerce, so non-store users get less value.
#6 Omnisend: Best for ecommerce email plus SMS
Omnisend brings email, SMS, and push together for online stores at a friendlier price than Klaviyo.
What it does well. Omnisend unifies channels in a single workflow, so one automation can send email, SMS, and web push. It is built for ecommerce and includes prebuilt automations for carts and post-purchase, plus 24/7 support even on the free plan.
Key features:
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Email, SMS, and web push in one workflow
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Prebuilt ecommerce automation templates
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Free plan with all core features
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Product picker and discount tools
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24/7 support on every plan
Pricing. The free plan includes 250 contacts and 500 emails per month. The Standard plan starts at $16 per month, and the Pro plan starts at $59 per month with unlimited emails and SMS credits.
Best for: Small to mid-size ecommerce stores that want multi-channel automation without Klaviyo prices.
Limitations. SMS on newer accounts is limited to the Pro plan. Features are ecommerce-focused, so it fits stores better than service businesses.
#7 Kit (ConvertKit): Best for creators and newsletters
Kit, formerly ConvertKit, is built for writers, creators, and newsletter operators.
What it does well. Kit treats the newsletter as the product. Its tools favor creators who sell digital goods and grow an audience through content. The free plan is one of the most generous in the market, and the tagging model keeps subscribers organized without complex funnels.
Key features:
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Free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
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Unlimited landing pages, forms, and broadcasts
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Subscriber tagging and segmentation
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Digital product and paid newsletter sales
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Creator-focused automation sequences
Pricing. The Newsletter plan is free for up to 10,000 subscribers. The Creator plan starts at $33 per month billed yearly for 1,000 subscribers, and Pro starts at $66 per month.
Best for: Creators, writers, and coaches who monetize a newsletter and digital products.
Limitations. Automation is lighter than ActiveCampaign, and paid plans get pricey at scale. It is not built for complex ecommerce flows.
How to Choose an ActiveCampaign Alternative
Start with your business model, then match the tool to it. Ecommerce stores should look at Klaviyo or Omnisend. Creators fit Kit. Budget-focused senders lean Brevo or MailerLite.
Next, weigh pricing structure. Brevo charges by emails sent, which suits large lists that send occasionally. Most others charge by contacts, which suits smaller, active lists. Check where your list size lands on each tier, since the jump between tiers is where costs bite.
Then test the automation depth you actually need. A welcome series needs far less than a full lifecycle program. Do not pay for enterprise automation you will never build.
Finally, use the free plans. Nearly every tool here offers one. Compare our Mailchimp alternatives and AI email marketing software guides to widen your shortlist before you commit.
The Bottom Line
The best ActiveCampaign alternative depends on your goal. Brevo is the strongest all-around value, MailerLite the simplest, and Klaviyo or Omnisend the best for ecommerce. Creators should start with Kit.
Every tool here offers a free plan or a low entry price, so you can test before you migrate. Start with Brevo or MailerLite for general email marketing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ActiveCampaign alternative?
Brevo is the best all-around alternative for most businesses. It charges by emails sent rather than contacts stored, which keeps costs low as your list grows. For ecommerce, Klaviyo and Omnisend are stronger picks, while creators do best with Kit.
Is there a free alternative to ActiveCampaign?
Yes. Brevo, MailerLite, HubSpot, Klaviyo, Omnisend, and Kit all offer free plans. Kit is free for up to 10,000 subscribers, one of the most generous free tiers. Brevo lets you store up to 100,000 contacts on its free plan.
Which ActiveCampaign alternative is cheapest?
MailerLite and Brevo are the cheapest paid options, starting at $12 and $9 per month. Brevo is often cheaper for large lists because it prices by emails sent, not contacts. Both also offer capable free plans for smaller senders.
What is the best ActiveCampaign alternative for ecommerce?
Klaviyo and Omnisend are the top ecommerce choices. Klaviyo offers the deepest data and segmentation, while Omnisend bundles email, SMS, and push at a lower price. Both include prebuilt flows for abandoned carts and post-purchase messages.
Why do people switch from ActiveCampaign?
Most people switch because the price scales quickly as their contact list grows. Others find the automation builder complex or need features like ecommerce SMS or a newsletter-first model. Alternatives can cut costs, simplify the interface, or add the right channel.
David Austin is a technology writer and software analyst at DeployHyre, where he covers AI tools, SaaS platforms, cloud hosting, and business automation. He focuses on hands-on comparisons of pricing, features, and real-world performance so teams can pick the right software with confidence.